Coventry City chairman Mike McGinnity has revealed Roland Nilsson and Jim Smith lost their jobs because of their failure to motivate the team.

Coventry City chairman Mike McGinnity has revealed Roland Nilsson and Jim Smith lost their jobs because of their failure to motivate the team.

But the Sky Blues chief insists the ultimate blame rests with the players who, he believes, have not shown enough passion and pride to get to the club back to the Premiership.

?It is fairly obvious why we have taken the decision,? said McGinnity, who admitted he has had sleepless nights about having to terminate Nilsson?s contract just eight months after the Swede took over from Gordon Strachan.

?We need to be back in the Premier League ? our finances stipulate that because we are committed to contracts with Premier League wages.

?To have a team that loses 19 games, draws six and only wins 20 does not give us confidence that the present manager is capable of motivating the players to get us back in the Premier League.?

He added: ?It has kept me awake for the last few nights. I knew when I took over as chairman that eventually we would be parting company. I did not expect it to be so soon and as far as Roland is concerned he is an absolute gentleman and my heart bleeds for him.

?But the players should start looking in the mirror and ask themselves ?how much are we to blame for bringing this on to Roland???

Nilsson was called to Highfield Road and sacked yesterday lunchtime while Smith, who is on holiday in Spain, was informed by telephone.

?What is so disappointing is that we had an inexperienced but an absolutely top guy in Roland and a very experienced man in Jim who we thought they would gel together and work off each other. But that has not worked, and the evidence is there with the league table.?